Russian-Armenian tycoon faces five years in jail over "power grab" remarks PHOTO

The Russian-Armenian business tycoon, the founder and president of the Tashir Group, Samvel Karapetyan, who has been detained in Armenia, faces up to five years in prison on charges of publicly calling for the seizure of power.

One of his lawyers, Liana Gasparyan, stated that her client has been charged under Article 422 of the Armenian Criminal Code, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

"The act is punishable by restriction of freedom for a term of one to three years, or short-term imprisonment for one to two months, or imprisonment for two to five years," reads the text of the Criminal Code as amended in 2021.

At the same time, a person charged under this article may instead be fined or sentenced to 150 to 270 hours of community service.

Meanwhile, Armenia's Food Safety Inspectorate announced the conduct of inspections in all "Tashir Pizza" chain of restaurants owned by Karapetyan.

"According to the application submitted by Tashir Pizza LLC to the Food Safety Inspectorate, inspections are currently being carried out at all 36 public catering facilities belonging to the organisation," the Inspectorate said on its website.

The website noted that violations of sanitary regulations were identified at one of the restaurant locations in Yerevan, and the establishment has been closed until the issues are resolved.

To recall, on June 17, Armenia’s National Security Service conducted a raid on Karapetyan’s residence in Yerevan, followed by his detention by the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime under the Armenian Interior Ministry. The operation occurred shortly after Karapetyan publicly criticised Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s attacks on the Armenian Apostolic Church and expressed his intent to intervene if political leaders failed to act.

Following the raid, Karapetyan was transferred to the Investigative Committee of Armenia, where a criminal case was formally opened against him. On June 18, police cordoned off the courthouse in Yerevan, where a judge was expected to decide whether to formally place Karapetyan under arrest. The detention has sparked significant public and political backlash, with supporters gathering outside the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime’s building in Yerevan to protest the actions against him. Reports indicate that during the raid, 45 individuals were detained, with two sustaining broken arms due to alleged excessive force by law enforcement. Multiple vehicles in the vicinity were also impounded.

Karapetyan responded to the raid, stating, “I will continue to stand by our Church and the Armenian people. I will fight with all my strength for the sacred values of the Armenian people—wherever I may be, no matter what happens.”  

By Khagan Isayev